Amy (Tianyuan) Li (She/Her)
Biography
Dr. Li studies strategies to improve indoor air quality and reduce occupant exposure to airborne pollutants in residential and commercial buildings. Her research is focused on smart ventilation and filtration systems that use sensors to automate system operation. She also investigates the impact of occupant activities on indoor pollutant sources and explores the effectiveness of occupant-centric approaches to mitigate these sources. In addition, Dr. Li is working with an interdisciplinary team that includes experts in engineering, epidemiology, medicine, and knowledge translation to improve indoor air quality in community spaces and congregate settings and explore the relationship between indoor air quality and public health policy and guidance. Dr. Li serves as a member of the Indoor Air Quality Advisory Group of the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers, which is working to create guidelines for indoor air quality.
Research Interests
Indoor air quality
Smart ventilation and filtration
Radon monitoring and mitigation
Air cleaning strategies
Indoor pollutant monitoring
Filter forensics
IAQ in community spaces
Impact of occupant behaviour on IAQ
Sustainable buildings
Education
2021, Doctorate Civil and Mineral Engineering, University of Toronto, Canada
2016, Bachelor of Applied Science Civil and Mineral Engineering, University of Toronto, Canada
Teaching*
- AE 200 - Enclosure Design Studio
- Taught in 2023, 2024, 2025
- AE 223 - Differential Equations and Balance Laws
- Taught in 2025
- AE 405 - Building Performance Measurement Lab
- Taught in 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
- AE 495 - Design Intensive Special Topics in Architectural Engineering
- Taught in 2025
- CIVE 495 - Design Intensive Special Topics in Civil Engineering
- Taught in 2024, 2025
- CIVE 770 - Topics in Environmental Engineering
- Taught in 2024, 2025
- ENVE 495 - Design Intensive Special Topics in Environmental Engineering
- Taught in 2025
* Only courses taught in the past 5 years are displayed.
Selected/Recent Publications
Du B, Reda I, Licina D, Kapsis C, Qi D, Candanedo J, Li T. 2024. Estimating Air Change Rate in Mechanically Ventilated Classrooms Using a Single CO2 Sensor and Automated Data Segmentation. Environmental Science & Technology, 58 (42), 18788-18799. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c02797
Li T, Shapiro MA, Heidarinejad M, Stephens B. 2024. Ten questions concerning building electrification Building and Environment, 261, 111653. DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2024.111653
Katz A, Li T, Osei-Twum J, James L, Buhariwala, P, Siegel JA, O'Campo P. 2024. Emergency Knowledge Translation (KT): Compensating for gaps in public health response to COVID-19 using a direct KT approach BMC Public Health, 2024, 2682. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-20151-2
Li T, Wan Y, Diamond ML, Siegel JA. 2024. Quantitative filter forensics for allergens and SVOCs in residential buildings in Toronto, Canada. Building and Environment, 266, 112070. DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2024.112070
Sparks M, Farahbakhsh I, Anand M, Bauch CT, Conlon KC, East JD, Li T, Lickley MJ, Garcia-Menendez F, Monier E, Saari RK. 2023. Health and equity implications of individual adaptation to air pollution in a changing climate. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 121(5), e2215685121. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2215685121
Katz A, Li T, James L, Siegel JA, O'Campo P. 2023. Systematically omitting indoor air quality: substandard guidance for shelters, group homes and long-term care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Critical Public Health. DOI: 10.1080/09581596.2023.2262736
Li T, Siegel JA. 2021. The impact of control strategies on filtration performance. Energy & Buildings, 251, 111378. DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2021.111378
Li T, Siegel JA. 2021. Assessing the impact of filtration systems in indoor environments with effectiveness. Building and Environment, 87, 107389. DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2020.107389
Matava C, Collard V, Siegel J, Denning S, Li T, Du B, Fiadjoe J, Fiset P, Engelhardt T. 2020. Use of a high-flow extractor to reduce aerosol exposure in tracheal intubation. British Journal of Anaesthesia, 125, E363-366. DOI: 10.1016/j.bja.2020.07.014
Li T, Siegel JA. 2020. In-situ efficiency of filters in residential central HVAC systems. Indoor Air, 30(2), 315-325. DOI: 10.1111/ina.12633
In The News
- A smoky summer is expected in parts of Canada as wildfire season begins. Here's how to prepare now
- After an epic year of wildfires, Canada's air isn't as clean as it used to be
- Faculty researchers awarded $900K from government
- ‘Everyone wants clean air’: Waterloo parent speaks out over public school board’s addressment of air quality in classrooms, CTV News - Kitchener
- Wildfire smoke is in our homes. Here's how to clear out toxic particles, CBC News
- Masking up (again) and other ways to protect yourself from wildfire smoke, CBC News: The National
- School Airflow Upgrades Years Away, Winnipeg Free Press
- Air quality CO2 sensor project will target public school classrooms, CBC News - Kitchener-Waterloo
- Is an $800 purifier best to clean your home's air? Marketplace tested 5 top brands and their claims, CBC Market Place
Graduate studies
I am currently seeking to accept graduate students. Please submit your graduate studies application and include my name as a potential advisor.